Praise and Criticism as Sharon’s Body Lies in State

JERUSALEM
— In life, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was a polarizing figure,
particularly after his turnabout from a builder of Jewish settlements to
a man who forced their evacuation.

But
regardless of their political views, many Israelis who came here on
Sunday to view his coffin admired Mr. Sharon as a bold decision-maker
unafraid to take risks, something they say they are yearning for in the
nation’s current leadership.

“He
was a person that once he decided, he carried it out — decide and
execute,” said Shlomo Shapira, 68, who rode for an hour on a bus
provided by the state to get here. “Today, we have people who don’t
decide and don’t execute.”...